TASD Names Distinguished Alumni for 2009

Texarkana Arkansas School District is proud to name Dr. Teretha Harper, the 2009 Distinguished Alumni. 

Teretha Harper is a native of Texarkana, Arkansas, and the oldest of five children born to the late John D. and Mattie Lee Dansby Williams. She graduated with honors from Booker T. Washington High School. Four years later, Teretha graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Dr. Harper worked for Milwaukee Public School District in positions as a middle school teacher and assistant principal, supervising teacher and curriculum specialist at the district office, and principal at elementary and middle schools. Those years were full of new experiences such as rapid large urban growth, magnet schools, and school-community-business partnerships.

Teretha attended Marquette University and earned a Master's and graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The areas of studies were majors in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, and minors in Urban Affairs and Social Welfare. 

After retirement, Teretha returned to Texarkana, Arkansas with her husband, Alfred, on September 11, 2001. Within five months, leaders from the College Bound Academy and Miller County NAACP called her to join their efforts.

Currently, Teretha is a board member with Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, Inc. (TRAHC), Texarkana Arkansas Education Foundation, Texarkana Arkansas Community Foundation, Southwest Arkansas Mental Health Council and Arkansas Women in Education. She is chair for TRAHC's African American Advisory Committee (TAAAC), College Bound Academy and secretary for NAACP Miller-Lafayette Counties Branch. 

In addition, Teretha earned the 2004 Miller County NAACP Special Achievement Award, 2006 Zeta of the Year Award, a 2007 TRAHC/ Women for the Arts Celebrity Artist position, 2007 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity's Cardinal Principle of Scholarship Award, and 2008 TRAHC Arts Educator of the Year Award. This year, TAAAC received TRAHC's Arts Champion Award.

Teretha is a member of the Lonoke Baptist Church, Debonaire-Pandora Civic Club, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Gamma Kappa Zeta Chapter. Dr. Harper worked with school and community members to develop the First Annual Youth Leadership Summit sponsored by the Texarkana Arkansas School District, August 2009.

Dr. Harper's work with the aforementioned local educational, humanities and arts, civic, Greek, philanthropic, and religious organizations are the avenues to help develop potential and build communities.

Project Bat House

Union Principal Receives Special Achievement Award 

The Arkansas Education Association (AEA) selected Union Communication Arts Magnet principal Thelma Forte' as a Human and Civil Rights Special Achievement Award recipient for 2009. This award is presented to an individual to recognize an achievement in promoting human and civil rights.

Mrs. Forte' has been in education for fifteen years and comes from a family of educators. Her mother, father, and two sisters are teachers and her husband is a principal in the Ashdown Public School System.

Forte' graduated from Henderson State University in 2001 with a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. She received a Superintendent's License in 2007, and is one of only three National Board Certified Teachers in the Texarkana Arkansas School District.

In 2004, Forte' received the NAACP President's Award for Community Service, was named 2005 TASD Teacher of the Year, ARTSMART Educator of the Year, and received the Bessie B. Moore Economics Award in both the Primary and Secondary Category.

"Mrs. Forte' exemplifies the spirit of making a difference in children's lives. She is always challenging herself and finding ways to reach students," said Texarkana Arkansas Education Association Chair Marietha Neal. "One can only wonder what she will do next, but one thing is certain, it will be something that helps students become life-long learners."

Mrs. Forte was honored during the 31st Annual AEA Professional Development Conference at the Human and Civil Rights Banquet on Thursday, November 5, 2009, in Little Rock, AR.

"We are proud to have Mrs. Forte' in the Texarkana Arkansas School District," commented Superintendent Russell Sapaugh. "She is a wonderful leader and she is the epitome of an educator making a difference on her campus, in the school district, and in the community."

Become a Teacher!

Attend:
Teach Arkansas: Alternate Routes to Teaching
Find out about:
Financial Aid l Shortage Areas l Teacher Incentives l Schools of Education
Master of Arts in Teaching l Non-Traditional Licensure Program

Saturday, November 21, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn, Airport - Little Rock
3201 Bankhead Drive
For more information go to
http://www.teacharkansas.org/

Trice Hosts First Health Fair 

Trice Visual and Performing Arts Magnet held its first Health Fair during Parent/Teacher Conference. The Health Fair provided students and parents an opportunity to gain information about health services offered in the Texarkana area. Representatives from Healthcare Express, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Senior Respiratory Solutions, Brown and Stringfellow Dentistry, K.I.D.S. Day Camp, and other local health agencies, along with TASD staff, answered questions and provide health tips. After learning ways to relieve stress, parents and students were offered a massage by A Touch for Health masseuse Brandi Nevels. Click picture to view slideshow.